Monday, October 10, 2011

Dead Man Eating

"The condemned man ate a hearty meal"...know the phrase?
The last meal is a customary part of a condemned prisoner's last day. In many countries, the prisoner may select what their last meal will be (within reason), and the authorities do their best to satisfy that request. Hmmmm, 'within reason'...
US double murderer Thomas Grasso (executed in 1995) asked for and received two dozen steamed mussels; two dozen steamed clams; a BK double cheeseburger; half-dozen barbequed spare ribs; two strawberry milkshakes; half a pumpkin pie with whipped cream and diced strawberries; and a 16-ounce can of spaghetti with meatballs, served at room temperature!
Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh (died 2001) got two pints of mint chocolate-chip ice cream!
Jew-killing nazi Adolf Eichmann (d.1962) requested a bottle of Carmel, a dry red wine....from Israel!!
Joan of Arc (d.1431): just holy Communion, merci.
In Texas last month, Lawrence Brewer requested a monster meal for his final chow-down: two chicken-fried steaks with gravy and sliced onions; a triple-patty bacon cheeseburger; a cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions and peppers; a bowl of fried okra with ketchup; a pound of barbecued meat with half a loaf of white bread; three fajitas; a meat-lover’s pizza; one pint of ice cream; a slab of peanut-butter fudge with crushed peanuts; and three root beers. When it duly arrived, he didn't eat any of it, saying he wasn't hungry.
Now Texan Senator John Whitmire says this whole business has got crazy, so he's abolished all future "last meal" requests. They'll eat what any other inmate eats...or nothing at all.
And quite frankly, when you're going to meet your Maker in the next few minutes, do you really wanna be breathing onions in His face?

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